Batteries & Hazardous Waste

Batteries

Some batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel; therefore, many communities do not allow them to be thrown away with your regular trash. Recycling is always the best option for disposing of used batteries.
Lead-Acid Car Batteries can be returned to almost any store that sells car batteries. The lead and plastics from the batteries can then be recycled and used to manufacture new products. About 99% of lead-acid car batteries are recycled.

Computers

Computers contain a variety of recyclable material, including plastic, metal, and glass. In fact, nearly 100% of a computer is capable of being recycled. Certain retailers and manufacturers offer electronics recycling programs.

Household Hazardous Waste

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be household hazardous waste (HHW). Products such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them. HHW may be dangerous to people or bad for the environment if poured down the drain, dumped on the ground, or thrown out with regular trash.

Sumner County Resource Authority event once a year in the Fall. A hazardous waste drop-off site is held each year in the fall at a date and place determined by state authorities. Call the Resource Authority for more information at 615-452-1114.

Used Oil

Never dump your used motor oil down the drain - the used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water. Recycling used oil also helps reduce American dependence on foreign oil. It takes 42 gallons of crude oil, but only one gallon of used oil, to produce 2.5 quarts of new motor oil.